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Michael J. Tougias
King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict
Fought between the Colonists and Native Americans in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, King Philip's War occurred in 1675-1676. Using slides of battle sites, period sketches, and maps, author Michael Tougias gives a narrated slide presentation taking the viewer from the start of the war to its finish. On a per capita basis this was the bloodiest conflict in our nation's history. Tougias is an author of 16 books, including two books about King Philip's War (Until I Have No Country, and co-author with Eric Schultz on the acclaimed King Philip's War).
The Blizzard of '78
On February 6th and 7th, 1978, New England was knocked to its knees by incredible snow and wind referred to as the "Worst Storm of the Century." Michael Tougias, author of two books about the Blizzard (The Blizzard of '78 and Ten Hours Until Dawn) combines a unique array of slides with riveting narration, bringing the Blizzard to life again. Tougias first chronicles the period before the storm, then follows its progression, causing commuter nightmares and incredible devastation. Tougias explains how people survived the storm from Cape Cod to Connecticut by spending up to 48 hours in their cars and how coastal homes were first torn from their foundations then smashed to smithereens by giant waves. He also recalls the lighter side of the storm, including neighborhood parties, the fun of cross-country skiers skiing down major highways, and the way people helped total strangers stranded by the storm.
5 New Englanders Survival at Sea
In early May of 2005 Captain Tom Tighe and first mate Loch Reidy of the sailboat Almeisan welcome three new crewmembers from New England for a five day voyage from Connecticut to Bermuda. Tighe has made this bluewater trip 48 times, and Reidy has joined him 20 times. Each year they take three additional passengers who seek to learn about offshore sailing and are looking for adventure. Four days into their voyage a massive storm strikes and Captain Tighe and first mate Loch Reidy are swept from the boat during a knockdown and are carried away by huge seas. The three new crewmembers somehow remain on the vessel as it is torn apart by the seas. Tougias' book, Overboard, follows the simultaneous desperate struggles of both the crew on the boat and the Captain and first mate in the sea. Tougias will use slides of the storm, the sinking sailboat, the crew, and the rescue missions to bring this story to life. Presentation suitable for all ages.
Michael Tougias is the bestselling author of 19 books Simon & Schuster including Overboard: A True Bluewater Odyssey of Disaster and Survival, Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea, The Finest Hours: The True Story of the Coast Guard's Most Daring Rescue, and Ten House Until Dawn. He has written and co-authored two books on King Philip's War. On a lighter note, Tougias chronicled his misadventures at his remote cabin in Vermont in his award-winning book There's A Porcupine In My Outhouse: Misadventures of a Mountain Man Wanna-Be. This book won the Independent Publishers Association Award for the "The Best Nature Book of the Year."